Bathukamma

1. Bathukamma Sadanand Reddy, D TDF Los Angeles

2. Bathukamma is a festival of flowers celebrated in Indian State of Telangana Celebrated during Navarathri, to honor the `life-giver’ Bathukamma(Durga) Main belief of this festival is, if young girls pray with devotion, goddess Gowri bless them with good spouse and their wishes come true On the other hand, married women along with their household friends and relatives pray to seek blessings of Gowri for prosperity and good year Colours, flowers and water are all intrinsic to the festival The goddess herself is not one rooted in a shrine but made of flowers that signify both life and eternity in their colours as well as impermanence Flowers are arranged in concentric layers into conical form Goddess is `created’ with turmeric powder each year, kept on top of Bathukamma, and immersed duly in water on 10th day of the festival What’s Bathukamma?

3. How to make Bathukamma? Who can play Bathukamma? What’s the attire for Bathukamma? How to sing Bathukamma songs? How to play Bathukamma Aata? How to perform Bathukamma Nimajjanam? How-to Bathukamma

4. Required Materials: Brass plate ( Sthambalam - traditional) or any flat plate - 1 Pumpkin(Gummadi)/Lotus leaves - 4 or Vistaraku Flower bunches- Thangedu(Senna auriculata), Gunugu(Celosia), Banthi(Marygolds), Chamanthi(Chrysanthemum), Chitti Chamanthi(Poms), Malle(Jasmine), Rudraksha(4 'O' clock flowers), Mandaram(Shoe flower), Ganneru(Oleander), Katla(), Gummadi(Pumpkin), Gulabi(Rose) Turmeric powder for making Gowri How to make a Bathukamma?

6. Keep Lotus/Pumpkin/Beera leaves/Vistaraku at the bottom of sthambalam Prune flower stems to 2’’ to 4’’ size and arrange in concentric layers making sure flowers are in line with outside edge of plate Start first layer with Thangedu flowers, if not use any other flower in the list After the first, arrange next layer bit inside because when finished bathukamma should be conical in shape Use different colored flowers for each successive layer so that bathukamma look aesthetically good. Fill inside of each layer with pruned stems, leaves to stabilize bathukamma After the final layer place goddess Gowri made out of turmeric powder in a Betelnut leaf or Place Gummadi female flower on top to represent Gowri Stick 2 incense sticks one on each side of Gowri & lit them at the event How to make Bathukamma contd.

7. Usually women folk and young girls take part in Bathukamma Aata However men too can take part in Kolatam played as part of Bathukamma Who can play Bathukamma?

8. Married women wear sarees. Other Indian traditional clothing may be worn but sarees preferred Young girls wear Lehanga and oni Men wear Indian traditional clothes Note: No western clothes are worn Attire for Bathukamma

9. Traditionally a lead singer with great voice who knew the bathukamma lyrics sing the songs and others repeat in chorus If no lead singer available, download Bathukamma mp3 songs and play Have good audio system to play the songs. Listen lyrics carefully and repeat rhythmically, all to sing at the same time as clap your hands, one clap closer to shoulders and other far and down How to sing Bathukamma songs?

10. Women and young girls stand in a big circle and dance around Bathukamma's. If many participants and space constraint, group in more than one circle Move anti-clock wise all at the same time as sing in chorus and clap Listen to lyrics of lead singer and repeat in chorus Clap your hands all at the same time, one clap closer to your face and the other far way leaning down How to play Bathukamma Aata?

12. After playing Bathukamma aata before sunset this ritual need to be conducted Perform Gowri pooja to send off goddess Parvathi devi(Gowri) Carry Bathukamma's in your arms or over you head, and head towards lake/pond/river or any water body Leave Bathukamma's in water so that they float on water Married women take haldi from goddess idol and apply to their Mangalasutra Pray as you leave Bathukamma in water Distribute Prasadam(lentils+jaggery) to all Head back singing Gowramma songs How to do Nimajjanam?